Ice tray



D. M. GIBSON Jan. 16, 1945.

ICE TRAY Filed Oct. 6, 1941 1 [\V/WA INVENT OR. D0/V/4L0 M a/ssa/v BY (M4 1% ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 16,1945

ICE TRAY Donald M. Gibson, Greenville, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Gibson Refrigerator Company, Greenville, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 6, 1941, Serial No. 413,797 7 Claims. (Cl. 62-1085) This invention relates to ice cube trays for refrigerators and more particularly to the grids which form the ice cube compartments therein.

In order to eliminate the necessity of applying heat to ice trays and their grids to loosen the ice cubes contained therein and thereby conserve the ice, grids composed of a plurality of relatively movable partitions have been developed. Those partitions have been so formed, however, that in being moved they rub against each other, causing abrasion of the adjacent surfaces. Such constructions cannot be employed where the grids are made of steel, because steel must be coated with an enamel or similar coating. The coating is soon rubbed oil. of the adjacent surfaces, exposing the steel body to oxidation.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide a grid formed of a plurality of separately removable partitions which can be separated from the tray and from each other without causing abrasion of the juxtaposed surfaces. It is also an object of the invention to so form the partitions that the upper edges of the adjacent portions thereof are spaced apart slightly to permit the insertion therebetween of a lever or other tool for prying the partitions apart.

These objects are attained by forming a pair of partitions in serpentine configuration which extend longitudinally of the ice tray and providing means for spacing apart the adjacent portions of the upper edges of the partitions.

These objects and others ancillary thereto will more fully appear in the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of an ice tray embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a lever for prying the partitions apart and illustrating the operatlonthereof; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form or the invention.

The invention is shown in Figures 1 to 3 as embodied in an ice cube tray H) of conventional rectangular shape. The ice tray may be fabricated from steel and coated with a suitable odorless. tasteless and non-corrosive coating. The stock from which the tray is formed should preferably be thin enough to permit some flexing or the side walls. 7

Located in the ice tray is a grid formed of three separate, unconnected, and removable partitions ll, l2 and Ill. The partitions II and I3 prefer ably are identical. They are formed from strips of steel bent to the configuration shown in plan in Figure 1 and covered with a coating such as that employed on the tray. It will be seen that the partitions H and I3 are of serpentine shape and provide a plurality of polygonal compartments M in which water may be frozen into ice. The partitions II and i3 extend longitudinally or the ice tray 10 and the ends thereof terminate short of the ends of the tray.

The partition 12 is straight and extends longitudinally of the ice tray. It is positioned between the two partitions H and I3. Adjacent its 'upper edge the partition I! is provided with return bent portions forming a pair of laterally oppositely projecting longitudinal beads l5 and IS. The uppermost bead I6 is spaced a slight distance below the top edge of the partition l2 and the bead i5 is just below the bead IS. The two beads engage the adjacent upright portions of the partitions H and i3 and space these partitions apart. Thus, recesses l1 and I8 of relatively narrow width are provided between the upper edge of the partition l2 and the partitions ii and I3. This permits a lever l9, illustrated in Figure 3, to be inserted between the partitions II and i2 and between the partitions l2 and I3 whereby the partitions may be pried apart.

The normal position of the partitions in the ice tray is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The laterally outer sides of the partitions H and I3. engage the side walls of the tray l0 and are thereby held in position against the partition l2. When it is desired to manufacture ice in the tray, the latter may be filled with water up to the level of the bead IS. The level of the water should not go above the bead 16 because it would then fill the recesses l! and I8 and prevent the insertion of the lever IS. The ice is formed by placing the tray in the freezing compartment of a I refrigerator and freezing in the usual manner.

To remove the frozen ice cubes from the tray the lever is is inserted into one of the recesses 11 or I8 and a sidewise pressure applied, as indicated in Figure 3. This will tend to pry the upper edge of the partitions l2 and I3 apart, as indicated in Figure 3. In doing this the outer side wall or the ice tray will flex sufliciently to permit the two partitions to separate. When the partition I3 is broken loose in the manner above described, the partition with the ice cubes which adhere thereto can be lifted out of the tray. The partition is then laterally bowed. which breaks away the ice cubes on one side thereof, and permits them to be readily removed with the fingers. The ice cubes on the other side of the partition can be broken out by flexing the partition in the opposite direction.

The other partition II can be removed in the same way, but it is unnecessary to remove both partitions if the ice cubes in one partition only are desired.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of the invention. In this modification the ice tray is indicated by the numeral 20 and is of the same configuration as that illustrated in Figure 1. In the ice tray are two partitions 2| and 22, both of serpentine configuration. The partitions 2| and 22 are provided at their ends with longitudinally extending fianges 23 and 24, respectively. The two partitions 2| and 22 are shaped so that when in their normal juxtaposed position the fianges 23 on one partition engage the corresponding flanges 24 on the other partition, but the adjacent portions of the partitions intermediate their ends are spaced apart slightly as indicated at 25. A space is thereby provided into which a tool, such as the lever la above described, can be inserted to pry the partitions apart.

The ice cubes are removed from the tray 20 by inserting the lever l9 into the recesses at 25 and exerting a sidewise pressure thereon. The side walls of the tray 20 will fiex sufiiciently to permit the two partitions to separate, breaking the larger ice cubes which are formed between the partitions from at least one partition. At the same time the cubes are loosened from the tray itself. The partitions can then be lifted out of the tray and fiexed in the same manner.

as in the case of the modification shown in Figures 1 to 3, so that the ice cubes which still adhere thereto can be removed from the partitions.

It will be observed from an examination of Figures 2 and 3 that the partitions ll, l2 and i3 each extend somewhat above the upper edge of the receptacle i so as to preclude the formation of ice therebetween adjacent their upper edges, thus providing a space for the insertion of the prying tool I9. Likewise, the partitions 2| and 22 of the modified construction shown in Figure 4 extend above the upper edges of the receptacle 2!! for the same reason.

It will be seen from the foregoing that with this invention it is a simple matter to remove as many ice cubes as are desired. There is no relative rubbing movement of the partitions which would cause abrasion of the coating thereon. The essence of the invention lies in providing separate unconnected partitions and in spacing apart a portion of the adjacent upper edges of the partitions so as to permit the insertion of the lever ii.

The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An ice tray including a receptacle, a pair of outer partitions of serpentine configuration and an intermediate straight partition in said receptacle for dividing the latter into a plurality of ice compartments, all or said partitions being removable from said receptacle independently of each other, and projections on opposite sides of said intermediate partition between its upper and lower edges, said projections engaging the adjacent surfaces oi. the outer partitions to space the upper edges thereof from the intermediate partition.

2. An ice tray of the character defined in claim 1 wherein said projections are integral ribs extending longitudinally of said intermediate partition.

3. An ice tray of the character defined in claim 1 wherein said partitions are formed irom sheet metal and said projections are ribs pressed outwardly from opposite sides oi said intermediate partition and extend longitudinally of said intermediate partition.

4. An ice tray comprising a receptacle and means in said receptacle for dividing the latter into a plurality of separate ice compartments, said means comprising two juxtaposed independently removable one piece partitions arranged in non-overlapping abutting relationship, one of said partitions being of serpentine configuration and engaging the other partition only at widely spaced intervals, said partitions having portions adjacent their upper edges spaced apart but closely paralleling each other in a direction. longitudinally of the receptacle whereby to permit the insertion therebetween and provide relatively wide bearing areas for a lever for prying the partitions apart.

- 5. An ice tray of the character defined in claim 4 wherein both of said partitions are of serpentine configuration.

6. An ice tray of the character defined in claim 4 wherein both of said partitions are oi serpentine configuration and engage each other only adjacent their ends.

7. An ice tray of the character defined in claim 4 wherein one of said partitions is straight and is provided with a longitudinal rib between its upper and lower edges engaging the serpentine partition below the upper edge of the latter.

DONALD L. GIBSON. 

